BMC plans more dry waste collection vehicles

MUMBAI: The BMC is planning to increase the number of dry waste vehicles used to collect dry waste from housing societies in the city presently twice a week. Beginning from next year the solid waste management department plans to send dry waste vehicles to housing societies on an every day basis so that people are encouraged to segregate waste into dry and wet at the source itself. Senior officials said that the long-term aim is to stabilize the segregation of waste so that the corporation is able to earn income out of it.

Presently dry waste vehicles go to housing societies twice a week or depending on the number of times they get dry waste from it.

Prakash Patil, BMC -Deputy Municipal Commissioner, solid waste management said that presently there are 46 dry waste collection vehicles. "However these are not sufficient. We are planning to increase their numbers so that they are able to attend to the needs of residents on an everyday basis unlike now when they do it at certain intervals. Once both the vehicles go to the societies everyday we are hopeful that residents would be encouraged to segregate their waste at source itself. Presently we receive complaints from residents who say that they mix waste because the dry waste vehicles do not come to their societies everyday." Once additional dry waste vehicles are brought in by the corporation, then depending on the requirement of every ward and the assessment is done by the Assistant Commissioner of the respective ward, the dry waste vehicles would be provided.

Civic authorities said that by March 2016, they are attempting to stabilize the segregation of waste. "Once the segregation at housing societies in each ward level is stabilized we may look at tendering out each ward to contractors by deploying vehicles and manpower so that the corporation is able to earn revenue out of it," said an official.

Residents said that they were happy that the municipal corporation is enthusiastic about the segregation of waste from source itself. Anil Joseph, chairperson of the Perry Road residents association in Bandra said that presently dry waste vehicle does not come in regularly due to which the dry waste in the bins gets loaded. "If the civic authorities send in the dry waste vehicles everyday, we would readily give our waste separately," said Joseph.